In the wake of school shootings, Utah’s Board of Education starts work on new statewide safety policy

In this May 2018 file photo, Santa Fe High School freshman Caitlyn Girouard, center, hugs her friend outside the Alamo Gym where students and parents wait to reunite following a shooting at the high school, Santa Fe, Texas, May 18, 2018 | Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle via Associated Press, St. George News

SALT LAKE CITY — Following school shootings nationwide, the Utah State Board of Education has begun crafting a comprehensive, statewide safety policy.

According to a report from Fox13Now, the board voted unanimously on Thursday to begin drafting the policy, which would be a first for the state.

“What we have are pieces and parcels of it. What we don’t have is a system-wide, comprehensive plan,” said Sydnee Dickson, the superintendent of public instruction.

Right now, Utah has no such policy. Any lockdown drills are handled by individual schools or districts on their own.

“Are there some things we can address statewide around mental health of our students? Also, thinking about drills. We have fire drill requirements but we don’t have other drills that are probably better for this day and time,” Dickson told Fox13.

Ideas being discussed in relation to the new policy range from bullying and violence prevention to mental health services and the question of whether teachers should be forced to carry firearms.